Jolly Rancher Lollipops: An Easy Candy Recipe

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Jolly Rancher lollipops are a colorful treat that is surprisingly easy to make at home. With just a few hard candies and lollipop sticks, you can create fun homemade pops in a variety of colors and flavor combinations. They are perfect for parties, holidays, classroom treats, or anytime you want a simple candy project.

This post was originally published in 2013 as a quick feature highlighting JollyPops made with Jolly Rancher candies. It has been updated with a complete recipe, new tips, and ideas for making your own colorful lollipops at home.

Easy Jolly Rancher Lollipops

One of the best things about this recipe is how customizable it is. You can make each lollipop using a single flavor or combine two or three different colors to create striped, layered, or blended designs.

Try pairing flavors such as cherry and blue raspberry, green apple and cherry, or grape and blue raspberry. Because the candies melt together as they bake, every batch can look a little different.

Ingredients

• Jolly Rancher hard candies in your favorite flavors
• Lollipop sticks

Supplies

• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
• Oven mitts

How to Make Jolly Rancher Lollipops

Preheat the oven to 275°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

Unwrap the Jolly Rancher candies and arrange them in groups of two or three on the prepared baking sheet. Place the candies so they are touching each other. Leave enough space between groups so the melted candy doesn’t run together.

For a multicolor lollipop, arrange two or three different colored candies together. You can place them in a straight line or slightly angle them depending on the look you want.

Bake the candies for approximately 5 to 10 minutes, watching them closely. Remove the baking sheet once the candies have melted together. Melting time can vary depending on your oven and how the candies are arranged.

While the candy is still hot, carefully place a lollipop stick into the melted candy. Gently twist the stick so the end becomes coated and securely attached to the lollipop.

Allow the lollipops to cool completely before removing them from the parchment paper or baking mat.

Create Your Own Flavor Combinations

Mixing Jolly Rancher colors is where this recipe gets especially fun. You can use two colors for a simple combination or three colors for a more colorful look.

A few combinations to try include:

• Cherry + Blue Raspberry
• Green Apple + Cherry
• Grape + Blue Raspberry
• Watermelon + Green Apple
• Cherry + Watermelon + Blue Raspberry
• Green Apple + Cherry + Grape

You can also choose colors based on a holiday or party theme. Red and green work well for Christmas, while red and blue work well for patriotic celebrations. Orange, grape, and green create a fun Halloween combination.

Tips for Better Homemade Lollipops

1. Keep a close eye on the candies while they are in the oven. Hard candy can go from melted to overly runny quickly, so check it frequently toward the end of the baking time.
2. Work quickly once the baking sheet comes out of the oven. The candy begins to harden as it cools, so add and twist the sticks into place right away.
3. If you want the colors to remain more distinct, avoid leaving the candy in the oven longer than necessary. For a more blended look, let the melted colors flow together naturally.
4. Be careful when working with melted hard candy because it becomes extremely hot. Adults should handle the baking sheet and melted candy, especially when making these with children.

How to Store Jolly Rancher Lollipops

Once the lollipops are completely cool, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Place pieces of parchment or wax paper between the lollipops to help prevent them from sticking together. For parties or gifts, you can also place each lollipop in a small clear treat bag and tie it with ribbon or baker’s twine.

A Colorful Candy Treat

Homemade Jolly Rancher lollipops are an easy way to turn a familiar candy into something a little more creative. With only a few ingredients and endless color combinations, they are simple enough for an afternoon activity but colorful enough for parties, holidays, and homemade gifts.

Looking for more sweet treats? Check out our other candy recipes for more fun and easy ideas to make at home.